Compare towns
Plainfield vs Athens vs Peacham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Peacham has the highest household income ($90k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Plainfield | Athens | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314Highest |
431Lowest |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
47.3±6.5Lowest 10% above VT |
50.1±5.7Highest 16% above VT |
| Peacham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Peacham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Peacham and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
| Peacham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
| Plainfield and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,028±$248Lowest 17% below VT |
| Plainfield and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,438 8% above VT |
$5,605Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Peacham School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.